Latest from Tony Payne at the Alliance for Maine's Future:

Idling fines up to $500; Queen of taxes; New state employees top list of end-of-session mischief

No Idle Threat:

Only in Maine would you expect drivers of non-passenger vehicles (read:business) to risk fines of $150 to $500 for allowing vehicles to idle for more than 5 minutes. (LD 2056)

Sponsored by Rep. Hinck of Portland and co-sponsored by Sen. Bartlett of Gorham, Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham, Rep. Conover of Oakland, Speaker Cummings of Portland, Rep. Dill of Cape Elizabeth, Rep. Faircloth of Bangor, Rep. Fitts of Pittsfield, Rep. Koffman of Bar Harbor

Legislators take don't-touch-me option:

Legislators on the Insurance & Fianancial Services Committee voted unanimously NOT to move their own health insurance coverage to Dirigo Choice which would have saved taxpayers $400,000. Instead, they opted to stay with the far more generous state employee plan for which they make NO contribution to health care premiums. Committee members include

Senator Nancy B. Sullivan (D-York), Chair

Senator Peter B. Bowman (D-York)

Senator Lois A. Snowe-Mello (R-Androscoggin)

Representative John R. Brautigam (D-Falmouth), Chair

Representative Marilyn E. Canavan (D-Waterville)

Representative Sharon Anglin Treat (D-Hallowell)

Representative Charles R. Priest (D-Brunswick)

Representative Jill M. Conover (D-Oakland)

Representative Patsy Garside Crockett (D-Augusta)

Representative Wesley E. Richardson (R-Warren)*

Representative Michael A. Vaughan (R-Durham)

Representative Jonathan B. McKane (R-Newcastle)

Representative David G. Savage (R-Falmouth)

Pingree proposes THREE new state employees (starting cost:$200,000) to monitor "toxic products":

Rep. Hannah Pingree of North Haven (hannah@pingree.com) has proposed three new positions at an estimated cost of nearly $200,000 for state government to monitor chemicals "of concern" and require manufacturers to disclose chemical content in all children's products. The costs to manufacthurers will likely be in the millions with no certain benefit. Expect a flurry of expensive law suits, as well. Co-sponsors of LD 2048: Rep. Brautigam of Falmouth, Rep. Conover of Oakland, Speaker Cummings of Portland, Sen. Dow of Lincoln County, Sen. Edmonds of Freeport, Sen. Martin of Eagle Lake/Northern Arrostook County, Rep. Perry of Calais, Rep. Treat of Gardiner.

Sen. Edmonds: "Were I queen of the universe, I would have raised a tax.":

Those are the sentiments of Maine State Senate President Beth Edmonds of Freeport (SenBeth.Edmonds@legislature.me.gov) stating her preference to balance the state budget in a recent article by Victoria Wallack. The article digs into two different approaches to solving Maine's chronic budget woes. Fortunately, the queen did not prevail.

Solving the budget's "structural gap":

The most thorough analysis of the widening structural gap between taxpayers' ability to pay and the appetite of state government to spend has been posted by the Maine Public Research Group. It details the added costs Maine people carry compared to the rest of the nation as well as recommends where costs can be cut.

Self-service voting records now online:

Curious how your legislators have voted on issues? Go tothe newly launched web site www.mainevotes.org developed by the Maine Heritage Policy Center.